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Blues lose key players for Adelaide clash

The hits keep coming for winless Carlton, with star forward Charlie Curnow ruled out of Saturday night’s imposing AFL assignment against Adelaide.

May 04, 2018, updated May 04, 2018
Carlton's star forward Charlie Curnow won't play against Adelaide. Photo: AAP/Julian Smith

Carlton's star forward Charlie Curnow won't play against Adelaide. Photo: AAP/Julian Smith

The Blues said Curnow and defender Caleb Marchbank suffered ankle injuries this week at training, ruling them out of the Adelaide Oval match.

Carlton expect the pair to miss only one week.

Young forward Jack Silvagni was also dropped for the second time this season.

But there is good news for the Blues, with star ruckman Matthew Kreuzer returning from a groin injury.

Kreuzer first hurt his groin in the season opener against Richmond and was sidelined the following week.

He returned for a fortnight but has not played since.

The Blues also recalled Jarrod Garlett and Nick Graham.

Carlton have had a bad run with injuries this season and hope to regain captain Marc Murphy in the next one or two games from his foot injury.

Adelaide have also made three changes, regaining star forward Eddie Betts for his first match since a hamstring injury in round four.

Jake Kelly and Darcy Fogarty will also return, while captain Taylor Walker (hamstring) is out, Riley Knight was managed and Myles Poholke was dropped.

Walker is expected to return for next week’s showdown against Port Adelaide after sustaining the injury in last week’s match against the Gold Coast.

“It looks like it will be one week,” said assistant coach Ben Hart today. “He was pretty keen to push it this week to play but we decided to go conservative with him. He should be available for the showdown.”

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide could pull All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder out of the AFL clash against West Coast because of the Optus Stadium surface.

Ryder has been out with an achilles injury since round one and was picked to return against the Eagles tomorrow but the hardness of the new surface at the new stadium might force a change of plan.

“If we get there tomorrow and we feel that there’s any issue at all with Paddy, we won’t take that risk because of the deck,” coach Ken Hinkley said.

Rebounding defender Jasper Pittard has also been included in the side, with Chad Wingard out due to a hamstring injury and Tom Clurey omitted from the team that beat North Melbourne in round six.

– with AAP

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